Fire-escape



(No Model.) 2Sheets-S1ieet 1.

A. BOETTGHER.

FIRE ES GAPEv No. 426,230. Patented Apr. 22, .1890.

WITNESSES INVENTOR:

A TTORNEYS "me mums nuns co., PNOYO-LITMCL, WASMNGTON. 04 c.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

A. BOETTOHER.

FIRE ESCAPE.

Patented Apr. 22, 1890.

WITNESSES A TTORNEYS 'mz mums PETER! 00., PNUYD-LIYNUH wlsmnav n cUNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

' ADOLPII BOETTCIIER, OF SOUTH STILLIVAIER, MINNESOTA.

FIRE-ESCAPE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 426,230, dated April22, 1890.

Application filed December 30, 1889. Serial No- 335,297.

To all whom, it ntay concern.-

Be it known that I, ADOLPH BOETTCHER, of South Stillwater, in the countyof Vashington and State of Minnesota, have invented a new and ImprovedFire-Escape, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription.

This invention relates to fire-escapes, the object of the inventionbeing to provide a simple and efficient apparatus by means of whichescape from a burning building may be effected, the parts being soarranged that they will be concealed when not in use.

To the ends above named the invention consists of certain novelconstructions, arrangements, and combinations of elements, which will behereinafter fully described, and specifically pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part ofthis specification, in which similar figures and letters of referenceindicate corresponding parts in all the Views.

Figure 1 is a sectional view of a building, representing the same as itappears when provided with my improved fire-escape, the parts beingrepresented as they appear when housed. Fig. 2 is a plan view of thefire-es* cape proper. Fig. -3is a sectionalview 011 line 3 3 of Fig. 1.Fig.4: is a cross-sectional view on line 4 4 of Fig. 1, and Fig. 5 is adetail View of the drum or reel.

Although the fire-escape forming the subject-matter of this applicationcould be located in any convenient place, I prefer to locate it directlybeneath the ridgepole, as represented in the drawings. In setting up thefire-escape I provide inclined tracks or ways 10, upon which there ismounted a truck 11. This truck 11 is of A form, and is provided withwheels 12, that ride upon the tracks 10. To the forward ends of the maintimbers of the truck there is secured a panel 13, which when the truckis in the position in which it is shown in full lines in Fig. 1 servesas a trap or cover for an opening a, that is formed in the gable. Justto the rear of the panel 13, I mount a drum 14., over which there ispassed a ladder 15, such ladder being made from wire ropes or cables 17b, that carry rounds c, a heavy weight 16 being connected (N0 model.)

to the f rce end of the ladder. From the drum 14 the ladder is ledbackward over a guidingdrum 17, that is mounted in bearings 18, carriedby standards 19, said standards serving as supports for the inner endsof the tracks or ways 10. From the drum 17 the ladder is led downward orbackward to a reel 20, such reelbeing located in any convenient positionand being provided with a hand-wheel 21.

The truck 11 is normally held in the posi tion in which it is shown inFig. 1 by bolts 22, that enter recesses (7, formed in the tracks 10. Thebolts 22 are connected to bell-crank levers 23, and these levers are inturn mounted upon a rock-shaft 24:. To the vertical arm 6 of one of thelevers 23 there is connected a chain 25, that is led forward over asheave 26 and then downward to a rod 27, that is arranged as shown.

At each floor of the building I locate a lever 30, and these levers 30,I connect to the rod 27 by means of chains 31. In practice I prefer tolocate the levers 30 between the windows of the house in connection withwhich my fire-escape is arranged, and in order that ready access to thelevers maybe obtained I provide doors 32, that are arranged as shown inFig. 3.

In operation, if any one of the levers 30 be thrown, as indicated by thearrow shown in Fig. 3, the rod 27 will be drawn downward and the bolts22 raised, thus freeing the truck, which will move outward to theposition indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 1, where it will be stoppedby the upturned ends of tracks 10 10, as indicated in Figs. 1 and 3, theweight 16 being thus carried to a position such that it will be free tofall to the ground, and, in

falling, the weight will carry the ladder down ward in front of thewindows of the house, thus affording a ready means of escape for theinmates. To return the escape to its normal position, the hand-wheel 21is turned in a direction such that the ladder will be wound upon thereel 20, whereby the weight 16 will be brought to bear, so that anycontinued winding of the ladder upon, the drum will act to carry thetruck inward to aposition such that the bolts 22 will be'in a positionto enter the recesses d.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent- 1. The combination, with a structure having anopening in one Wall thereof and tracks leading to said opening, of atruck or carriage mounted on said tracks, provided at its front end witha panel filling said opening when the truck or carriage is in itsretracted position, said carriage being constructed to project at itsforward portion through said opening, a flexible Weighted ladderreleased by the forward movement of the truck, and alocking andreleasing mechanism for the truck, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, with a ladder-carrying truck mounted on inclinedways, of bolts carried by the truck and arranged to engage keepers orrecesses formed in the Ways, and a bolt-operatin g mechanism,substantially as described.

3. The combination, with a truck mounted on inclined ways, of a drumcarried thereby, a ladder arranged to pass over the drum, a reel' towhich the ladder extends, a weight mounted on a shaft that is carried bythe ladder, said shaft being arranged to engage shoulders formed on thetruck, bolts carried by the truck and arranged to enter recesses formedin the ways, and a bolt-operating mechanism, substantially as described.

' ADOLPII BOETTOHER.

Vitnesses:

G. S. WELSHONS, H. L. IIAGERMAN.

